The word varna (literally meaning colour) is used in Hindy philosophies to describe the nature (swabhava) of a man. It initially had to do with the sophistication and spiritual refinement of a man, and quickly got attached to the profession of a man. http://www.kamat.com/indica/caste/
Found this on HinduNet- A Forum from Hindu Universe.
"The varna system is first clearly explained in the famous Purusha Sukta
of the Rig Veda, perhaps humanity's oldest book. The hymn describes the
entire universe in the form of a human being, a cosmic person called the
'Purusha'. From this cosmic person the human social order is modeled with the
Brahman or intellectual class deriving from his head, the Kshatriya or
warrior class from his arms, the Vaishya or merchant class from his thighs
and the Shudras or servants from his feet." http://www.hindunet.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=69438&Main=11325 (emma c)
The word varna (literally meaning colour) is used in Hindy philosophies to describe the nature (swabhava) of a man. It initially had to do with the sophistication and spiritual refinement of a man, and quickly got attached to the profession of a man. http://www.kamat.com/indica/caste/
Found this on HinduNet- A Forum from Hindu Universe.
"The varna system is first clearly explained in the famous Purusha Sukta
of the Rig Veda, perhaps humanity's oldest book. The hymn describes the
entire universe in the form of a human being, a cosmic person called the
'Purusha'. From this cosmic person the human social order is modeled with the
Brahman or intellectual class deriving from his head, the Kshatriya or
warrior class from his arms, the Vaishya or merchant class from his thighs
and the Shudras or servants from his feet." http://www.hindunet.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=69438&Main=11325 (emma c)